Downing Street 'demands apology' from Jeremy Paxman for calling David Cameron a 'complete idiot'
Downing Street wants an apology from Jeremy Paxman after the BBC presenter was adjudged to have called the prime minister a "complete idiot".
Paxman made the remark over David Cameron's plans for the First World War centenary while he was being interviewed on the Graham Norton show.
The Newsnight presenter said he was "troubled" by Cameron talking about the millions of pounds that would be spent on the anniversary and the way he had "compared it with the celebrations for the Diamond Jubilee".
He said: "Therefore people get the idea that somehow this is going to be celebrated. Well, only a complete idiot would celebrate such a calamity."
The comments did not go down well at No.10, to the extent that a Downing Street aide has reportedly written to BBC Director-General Lord Hall demanding an apology.
The Mail claims that the letter's author, Tory MP Rob Wilson, is unlikely to have penned it without "Mr Cameron's tacit approval".
Wilson writes: "Mr Paxman should make a full and public apology for his comments. He should make it clear to BBC viewers and licence fee payers that his remarks were inaccurate and ill-founded.
He added: "I would also like to ask whether you believe that it is appropriate for the face of the BBC’s flagship news programme, Newsnight, to make political attacks of this sort."
A BBC spokesperson told the paper it had not received Wilson's letter but would respond when it had.